NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's public works committee has decided to designate multistoreyed structures taller than 18 metres as high-rise buildings now, instead of 15 metres currently. It has also approved amendments to 31 other rules of the NMC development control regulation (DCR).

The department has also decided to allow construction within nine meters of railway boundary lines instead of the previous 30 meter restriction, said committee chairman and corporator Sunil Agrawal.

Addressing newspersons, Agrawal said these facilities would be applicable only after these amendments are passed by the NMC general body and approved by the state government. The civic body would also invite suggestions and objections from citizens before sending them to the state government, said Agrawal, adding that these extended facilities will come at a premium.

He said that the changes were a result of suggestions made by a committee of experts including municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar, additional director (town planning), representatives from CREDAI and Indian Institute of Architecture.

The panel has also given its nod to give relaxation for construction of 'assembly buildings', including restaurants and hotels, from accommodation of minimum 20 to 50 persons. Agrawal, however, clarified that all these amendments will not be applicable to constructions carried out in the past.

Tejinder Singh Renu, builder and secretary of Vidarbha Taxpayers Association, welcomed the move. He said these proposals are in the interest of city's growth. Many DCR 2000 provisions were causing hindrance in building construction and were restricting cities growth. He gave credit to mayor Praveen Datke, Agrawal and ruling party leader Dayashankar Tiwari for removing such obstructions from the DCR.

Citing an example, Renu said earlier it was mandatory to furnish NOC from railways if building line was coming within 30 meters (almost 100 feet) from railway boundary, which has now been brought down to 9 meters, because railways have already kept ample area on both side of existing railway tracks and NOC formality was just delaying sanction.

Likewise, increasing height for high-rises requiring fire escape or external stairs has been done to match provisions already implemented in Pune. Furthermore, with NMC acquiring turn table ladder with reach of almost 45 meters plus, such relaxation is a welcome step, Renu said.

"However, I feel assembly building still requires consideration because existing provision in DCR N 2.4 demands 12 meter setback from front road, which is illogical for restaurants, places of worship, passenger station and similar. These passenger station criteria could cause restrictions in Metro Rail Stations in city, because 12 meter setback is almost 40 feet and with small city plots, it makes project unviable when such restrictions are imposed," he said.

Renu pointed out, "I would suggest that side margin criteria of 'height divided by 2 minus 4 meter' also needs reconsideration, due to which many times it is difficult to even consume 1.25 FSI, thereby making project unviable or extra cost passes on to the end user."

Major changes

* Increase in height of high-rise building from 15m to 18m

* Relaxing side margins for high rise buildings

* Allow mix use of construction in industrial areas

* Developers to provide all civic amenities in even 2 hectares of township from existing rule of 3 hectares

* Basement parking increased from one to two or more

* Refuge area mandatory in each floor in high rise building

* Extension in projection of balconies from zero to 0.6 meter (2ft)

* Mandatory to have pumping facility in basements

* Distance between two high rise commercial and residential building should be 6 meter at least